Your method makes complete sense to me and your right it's an ongoing tragedy. The more I read about this young airman the more tragic this accident becomes.

Darnall, I may look silly like you, but that's the way I approach my trailer door also, I open and close it by myself, and like you, I walk "around" it, I prefer to close it also, myself, I've had "help", turn it loose about 2 ft before it is closed, and that sometimes can "unwind" the cables, and the next time it gets opened, it falls, thanks, but no thanks, I'll do mine myself, if I notice something doesn't feel like it did the last time, I can remember that. Good advice! Bob